I might add: if Hillary had to filibuster 15+ minutes on the Health Care question, I'd say that Obama held his own. If she was so confident in her experience in that realm, why did she keep rattling on about it? What message does it send? Well, I'll tell 'ya: Give her a second chance at Health Care reform and it'll get bogged down again.

Based on last night's Obama/Clinton debate, I'm ready to make a prediction: Obama takes Texas by about 10 points, and Clinton squeaks by in Ohio by about 2 or 3. Obama wins the rest. The Saturday night live line Clinton had again fell flat, just like the Xerox line and scores of others. I thought Obama's rebuttal about the definition of denounce versus reject was a nice subtle jab at the definition of what "is" is. If the Clintons have any class they will bow out with grace next Tuesday, but I think we know that won't happen. They're probably going to slime up the convention over Superdelegates and Florida/Michigan. I hope I'm wrong.

On another note: Tim Russert is such a [XXXXX}. [6-14-08 Edited out of respect for the dead, but will keep the link from TPM]

All we did when we went into Iraq to take out Saddam is create a vacuum which will eventually be filled by someone as bad or worse. That man appears like it will eventually be Al Sadr. All of the self-congratulations going around among the supporters of Bush Iraq policy and the recent troop escalation hinges on what appears to be a cease fire ordered by Muqtada. And I'll bet something else. When a Democrat is elected and we pull out of Iraq, Al Qaeda better be ready to run, because Sadr's people will take them out. And then the fun begins: a three way partition of what was once Iraq. This has been long predicted, for better or for worse. Remember the chants of "Muqtada, Muqtada" just before Saddam was dropped with the noose? Remember that sound, because we're going to be hearing a lot of it. And we have our friends at the PNAC to thank for all that. Back then we were too busy wagging the dog.

Ok, here's what I'll say about Hillary: I think she would make a great Senate Majority Leader. I think that deliberative body is where she belongs. I keep hearing about Obama's inexperience and lack of specifics on policy. I'm wondering if anyone spreading that around is actually paying attention? Apparently not. [Sigh] Hillary inspires precisely nothing for me as potential President. I'd like to see a woman President. But I don't think we'll get anywhere with her. I've supported Obama from the beginning, and have been pleasantly surprised by his run. It looks like he can take Texas. If he does that, hopefully Hillary's people will see the writing on the wall and not try to slime up the convention with win at all costs tactics. We don't need to be sending THAT message to the world at large.

Sooooo dramatic. File under "huh?" And I quote: "I think even a six-year-old understands that you don't change the rules of the game halfway through..." And FOX news proclaims: OBAMA'S CHARMED LIFE IS OVER. Wow. Hang it up, boys, it's over. I mean, COME ON.

My gut feeling is that Hillary's accusations of plagiarism are gonna backfire for her in Wisconsin, and possibly Texas. No wonder she left WI early. This one sure looks like desperation to me.

I agree with this post wholeheartedly.

The op-ed piece in today's Washington Post just about sums up how I feel about the '08 election. I don't think there's a conspiracy going on at all. I don't think the wingnuts are bluffing about their dislike of McCain, for example. A certain member of my own family seems to think that the "pink mafia" is behind McCain's nomination. Heh heh. Pink Mafia. This notion, and the current state of the right wing blabbermouth set, is not unlike a depiction of McCarthy era House Unamerican activities in the context of a Shakespearian comic subplot. If that makes sense. I like our chances in November.

Well, as Josh Marshall (or somebody) put it, the "Mittmentum" is officially over. Gee, couldn't see that coming. Love the spin: I'm bowing out to make sure the terrorists don't win. I can't help but think how the current era will be looked at 50 years from now. I don't suppose History will be kind. Perhaps there will be a break for the semester on Late 20th/Early 21st Century at or about 1/20/09 and a better viewpoint on the period thereafter. One can only hope.

I am enjoying it while it lasts: Watching the right wing blabbermouths whine and complain about a left wing media conspiracy being responsible for McCain's resurgence as the front runner of the Republican Party. All the paranoid hatemongers out there are looking for anyone to blame but themselves. They're just pissed that it's a weak field. All of the GOP candidates are flawed and I smell victory (even if it's Hillary). McCain: Loathed by the right wingnuts and rejected by the independents this time around due to his steadfast support of Bush Iraq policy. Romney: Does anyone really LIKE this asshole? Absolutely no shred of a sense of humor to be found. Huckabee: Come ON. Are you kidding me? The "secular" world knows better than that. Good luck, Pal.

Cast my vote for Obama this morning, and also NO on everything except Prop. 93. I've never been a fan of the current state of CA's term limits. Also No on A & B for Santa Clara. It's shameful how dishonest the proponents of A & B have been, on up to the Mercury News. I used to think the Merc was the best paper in the Bay Area. Not anymore.